Key retainer



May 30, 1933. Q RAW v"1Q-912,307

KEY RETAINER Filed sept. 8, 1931 Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CHARLES RAW, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO KEY RETAINER Application ledSeptember 8, 1931.

lo for the purpose of burglarizing the property or for plundering orunlawfully entering property protected by lock and key, entrance hasbeen repeatedly gained in this manner.

In order to appropriately overcome this well known menace to life andproperty I have devised a small, inexpensive and compact article that isquickly and easily inserted into the key hole from the inside of theroom after the door has been locked with key remaining in the lock. Thearticle wedges the key in the lock in a rigid manner so that it isimpossible to turn it or to push it out from the outside of the door. Italso has a suitable spring tension and is formed 5 so that it could notjar out of the lock, and

is not easily pulled out by children, it is necessary to slightlyelevate the end before it can be released, however when this is done itis readily released without difliculty. o The invention possessesfurther advantages, all of which will be clearly revealed during thecourse of the following detailed description, illustrated throughout theaccompanying drawing, and more fully pointed out in the appended claim.

With direct reference to the drawing:

Figure 1 discloses a partial view of a typical door showing the end of amortise lock, escutcheon plate and knob, and the device inserted intothe key hole in normal relation for use.

Figure 2 is a clear perspective View of the complete device.

My device is made up entirely of spring wire of a suitable gauge. Its:formation com- Serial No. 561,668.

prises straight portion l, one end of which forms a loop as at 2, andthe metal continues on forming straight portion 3 which is parallel toportion l as shown.

Within portion 3 the metal is deflected 5 as at 4, and at the extremityof deflection 4 a Z-shaped offset 5 is provided, and from this positionthe metal takes a straight course 6 and forms handle 7. At the eX- tremeopposite end of the device the metal 55 forms a cradle, as indicated at8.

lVith handle portion 7 and cradle 8 within the hand, portions at 1, 2and 3 are inserted into the key hole, the body of the key will restwithin cradle 8, while portion 5 will engage the bottom of the key hole,thus preventing the key from turning within the lock or from beingpushed out from the outside of the door, as clearly indicated inFigure 1. o

One of the outstanding advantages of my invention, and one of no lessimportance than those heretofore mentioned, is the fact that due to thesame being composed entirely of spring Wire the operation of its makingis so simple and the cost of material so small, it may be manufacturedat an eX- tremely low cost, thus greatly reducing the selling price,which oi course lends great value to the invention from a commercial 7viewpoint.

While I have hereinabove disclosed, with the aid of the accompanyingdrawing, one precise embodiment of my invention, I re serve the right tomake certain minor changes, such as slight modification in bends, ifthis becomes necessary during any probable further development of thesame for the market, however notwithstanding this fact, a departure fromthe general principle as embodied would of course be consistentlyavoided.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

A key retainer of the formation as de- 9 scribed, the said formationcomprising tWo spaced parallel straight portions connected at one endthereof, one of the said portions terminating at its free end in a loop,and 5 the said loop to engage around a key shank, the remaining portionat its opposite end being deflected and having an o'set to engage thebottom of a key hole and the end of the offset terminating in a handleportion whereby the aforesaid oil'set may be Withldriwn from itsengagement with the key In testimony whereof I hereunto aHiX mysignature.

CHARLES RAV.

